"I
love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he
hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I
live." Psalm
116:1,2

I.Introduction
- How Important is Prayer in my Life?

A.Someone once said that a Christian is only as strong as his prayer life.
There is a lot of truth in this because prayer is simply your direct
communication with God. When you read the Bible, God speaks to you; when you
pray, you speak to God. Your personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ
cannot grow without this proper communication. You were created to walk with God
in prayer!

B.Leonard Ravenhill writes, "Poverty-stricken as the church is today
in many things, she is most stricken here in the place of prayer. We have many
organizers, but few agonizers; many players and payers, but few prayers; many
singers, few clingers; lots of pastors, but few wrestlers; many fears, few
tears; much fashion, little passion; many interferers, few intercessors; many
writers, but few fighters. Failing here,
we fail everywhere."

C.The purpose of this lesson is to acquaint the believer with a powerful
prayer life so he or she can effectively "______ with God" (Gen
6:9).

II.Prayer
Defined - Hebrews 4:16

A.Prayer simply is walking and talking with Jesus, sometimes for brief
moments, and sometimes for extended periods of time.

B.It is the soul of man offering up desires and burdens to God with humble
confidence that we shall obtain the help we need because of Jesus (He
4:16)

C.Prayer is also our worship
addressed to the Father, in the authority of the name of Jesus Christ, by the
power of the Holy Spirit.

P – praise

R – repent

A – ask

Y – yield

D.Finally, prayer is God's answer to need! By praying, we should know that we already have the answer to our need
(Mt 6:7,8; 1Jn 5:14,15)!

III.The
Challenge to Pray!

A.Prayer is God's appointed way for Christians to get things (James
4:2). God already _________ what you need (Matt
6:7,8), but often waits for you to come to Him for those things, instead
of just expecting things.

A.Everywhere
(1 Timothy 2:8). Don't limit your prayer life
to the church house! Wherever you are, if you have a need, or are thankful,
pray!

B.Christians are not to pray as a public show, but rather in a "_______"
(Mt 6:5,6). The principle is, have a special
place of prayer in your home (the closet
is as good as any), as well as everywhere you go, but not for show!

C.In
church (Acts 12:5),
with other believers in the meetings.

V.How
Does a Christian Pray?

A.Like you were speaking directly
face to face with your very best Friend (John
15:15,16)! There are three sides to prayer (Matt
7:7,8):

1.Asking
(not demanding; John
16:24; Matt 21:22). Never be afraid to
ask God for things that you believe you need. Not with vain repetitions (Matt
6:7), or with prepared prayers - but from the heart!!!

2.Seeking
(Heb 11:6). Make sure that your request is not
"flippant" (not being serious about it), but that you are fully
persuaded that it is what you or someone needs (James
1:5-8).

3.Knocking
(2 Cor 12:7-9). If at first God does not seem
to answer your request, keep "knocking" until either He answers the
need, or has said NO, or tells you to wait.

B.You pray by _________ (Heb 11:6), not by
just “expectation,” knowing that God hears you and believing that He will
answer your requests - sometimes with a YES, sometimes with a NO, and sometimes
with a WAIT.

4.Supplication (1 Tim 2:1) which involves
not just asking, but spending time moving God's heart toward your need, and
other people’s needs.

VI.What
to Pray For

A.Wisdom – the ability to make right decisions (Jam
1:5).

B.People in authority over us (1Tim 2:1-3).

C.Courage (Acts 4:23-32). Never did
anyone pray for the gift of tongues!

D.People who are serving the Lord – that they would always be protected.

E.Every need (Philp 4:6;
1Pet 5:7; Ps 34:6; 55:22)
– A Christian is someone who has discovered they are totally dependant upon
the Lord for everything! There is nothing to big, or too small to pray about.

VII.The
Conditions for Answered Prayer

A.Ask according to God's __________, and not yours (Matt
26:39)

B.Make sure that you first forgive others their sins against you before you
ask God for things (Mark 11:25).

C.Pray in faith, believing (Mark 11:24; Heb
11:6; James 1:6,7)

D.Make sure you are not in rebellion to God's commands and will for your
life (1 John 3:22; Ps 66:18)

E._________ with Christ as opposed to only coming to God when you are in
trouble or in desperate need (John 15:7).

F.Pray to the Father, with the help of the Holy Spirit, in the ______ of
Jesus Christ (John 16:23,24). You cannot
approach God and make requests without Authority
- Jesus is our Authority for getting any and every thing!

VIII.Hindrances
to Answered Prayer - Take This Spiritual
Inventory

oAre you saved (Prov 15:29)?

oHow is your confidence in God's sufficiency - are you uncertain, or
hesitant about what you are praying for (James 1:6,7)?
If so, you are hindering it.

oDo you have an _______________ attitude (Mark
11:25,26)?

oIs there any ________ (sin) in your life that you won't let go of (Ps
66:18)?

oAre you lazy? Not making the effort;
and doing everything else but pray!

Will
you right now make a promise to God that you will spend at
least 15 minutes in heart-to-heart prayer every day before the throne of God? Will you learn
to walk with God, and depend upon Him for your deepest need?